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Sports 1B Wednesday November 6, 2013 Packers' Rodgers has fractured collarbone GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Packers' franchise quarterback is taking a seat. Aaron Rodgers said Tuesday he has a fractured left collarbone and has no idea yet how long he will be out. The 2011 NFL MVP offered details of the injury on his weekly radio show on 540-AM ESPN. He got hurt after getting sacked by the Bears' Shea McClellin on a third-down play during the Packers' first series while he was scrambling outside the pocket. He hurt his left, non-throwing shoulder. ''I do have a fractured collarbone. That's a significant injury,'' Rodgers said. ''We'll know more about the severity and the timetable later this week.'' Rodgers said he was holding out hope he would heal quickly. ''In this case, it was considerably more pain than I've felt in a long time,'' he added. That collective groan you heard came from the state of Wisconsin. The sliver of good news for the Packers: coach Mike McCarthy indicated that the injury won't end Rodgers' season. He sounded much more optimistic than after Monday night's 27-20 loss to Chicago. ''I'm relieved, no doubt,'' McCarthy told reporters at Lambeau Field. ''With the new information that was given today, everybody felt better about it. How long? We don't have our hands around a timeline yet, but I know Aaron is very optimistic and he'll do everything he can to get back in a timely fashion.'' So in steps Seneca Wallace, who wasn't even in Packers training camp this offseason, to take over the offense when the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Wallace was signed before the week of the season opener after Green Bay jettisoned three other backup candidates. Wallace was ineffective in relief in the 27-20 loss against the Bears, finishing 11 for 19 for 114 yards and an interception. It was his first game since Jan. 1, 2012. The Packers can wait until Friday to officially rule out injured players, but McCarthy said ''I'm preparing Seneca to be the starter, that's the way our game-planning has gone.'' Yet he seemed to leave open a glimmer of miraculous hope. ''But let's not kid ourselves, if (Rodgers) walked in your office and asked for the ball on Saturday, what would you do,'' he asked rhetorically. ''So, we'll just see what happens.'' On a team rocked all season by injuries, Rodgers had been a rock. The Packers had reeled off four straight wins despite being without top players like linebacker Clay Matthews (thumb), Randall Cobb (leg) and Jermichael Finley (neck). Losing Rodgers might be the most devastating blow of all. His timing, accuracy and footwork have been typically top-notch. Protected by an improved offensive line, and complemented by a rejuvenated running game, the Packers looked to be serious NFC contenders again considering guys like Matthews and Cobb were expected to return. Rodgers entered Monday night having completed 67 percent of his 249 pass attempts for 2,191 yards and a 108.0 quarterback rating. He has 15 touchdown passes and four interceptions. And since taking over for the equally dependable Brett Favre in 2008, Rodgers has only missed a game due to injury once — on Dec. 19, 2010, for a concussion. Rodgers got emotional at one point during his 15minute radio appearance when he described the reception he got from fans as he walked back to sideline in green warmups in the third quarter. ''We put our bodies on the line. We do it because we love this game. But when I walked back out on that field — I'm getting a little choked up here just thinking about it,'' Rodgers said, ''that was one of the top five moments of my career there.'' Wrestling sign-ups The Top Fuelers Wrestling team will hold its 201314 season sign-ups from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and Thursday at Round Table Pizza in Red Bluff. Wrestlers in kindergarten through third grade are $40 and wrestlers fourth grade through eighth grade are $60. For more information call Zeno Blanchard at 7365665. Youth basketball sign-ups The Cornerstone Youth Basketball League is holding its annual winter sign-ups at Red Bluff Cornerstone Bank now until Nov. 15. The instructional and recreational league is for first graders through sixth graders. First and second graders will learn fundamentals from high school coaches and varsity basketball players, and third through sixth graders will play in games each week after learning new skills. Coaches are also needed. Tehama Tracker Sports on TV COLLEGE FOOTBALL 5 p.m. ESPN2 — Cent. Michigan at Ball St. NBA BASKETBALL 4 p.m. ESPN — Chicago at Indiana 6:30 p.m. ESPN — Dallas at Oklahoma City NHL HOCKEY 4:30 p.m. NBCSN — Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers SOCCER 11:30 a.m. FSN — UEFA Champions League, Celtic at Ajax FS1 — UEFA Champions League, AC Milan at Barcelona (same-day tape) AP photo San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith fields questions in the team's NFL football practice facility Tuesday in Santa Clara. Smith missed the past five games while undergoing treatment for substance abuse. 49ers' Smith vows to stay healthy, clean SANTA CLARA (AP) — Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Part of the process for the San Francisco 49ers' AllPro linebacker to rejoin the team following a five-week stint in rehab included a verbal commitment to the NFL that he would stay out of trouble and keep clean. ''I think any time we could all look into our lives and find something we need to work on,'' Smith said Tuesday, seemingly relaxed. ''I've taken my time and I've done that.'' A clean-cut Smith — hair trimmed from his previous long, curly cut — returned to the 49ers' locker room after his long absence and five missed games to cheers from teammates who chanted his first name. Everybody knows what he means to this franchise and defense — and the 49ers are hopeful he is as healthy as he looks and ready to return to the field as soon as Sunday's home game with Carolina. ''I'm getting there. Every day's just a step closer to getting to where I want to be,'' Smith said at his locker after practice. ''I've gotten a lot of support, from my family, friends, organization, teammates and everything. And it really says a lot that people care about me outside the field and they care about me as a person.'' Smith had been on an indefinite paid leave of absence before being activated to the 53-man roster Thursday, two days after he turned himself in to Santa Clara County authorities on weapons charges. He met last Wednesday with team officials. The fearsome pass-rusher is in shape despite a couple of extra pounds gained during his stint at an inpatient treatment center for substance abuse. He was at a facility outside California, he said, while declining to offer further details. He said he returned to the Bay Area on Oct. 28 after entering rehab in late September — and he was away for his 24th birthday Sept. 25. Defensive teammate and fellow linebacker Patrick Willis is among those who sent periodic text messages to Smith during his time away. ''Aldon has been a guy since he came in who has been very productive for our defense, has been a playmaker for our defense,'' Willis said. ''To get him back is a good thing, then, too, with his absence we were able to develop some depth with some of the other guys. It's really going to be a strong point for us. When you have a guy such as Aldon with his talent, the biggest thing we can do for him is just let him know we're here for him, let him know that we're his teammates, but the main thing is just let him grow on his own.'' Smith played in a 27-7 home loss to the Colts on Sept. 22 and had five tackles just two days after he was arrested and jailed on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession. He apologized for his behavior after the game then later announced he would leave for treatment. San Francisco (6-2) has won five straight games in impressive fashion without him. Also in September, Smith and former teammate Delanie Walker were named in a lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by a Northern California man who said he was shot at a party at Smith's house on June 29, 2012. Smith, selected seventh overall in the 2011 draft out of Missouri, had previously been arrested on suspicion of DUI in January 2012 in Miami shortly after the 49ers lost in the NFC championship game. Now, Smith is moving forward. He's thrilled to be reunited with not only his team but also his 10-monthold son, Aulis. ''He looks good, man,'' running back Frank Gore said. ''I'm a big fan of Aldon, a young guy who has the potential to be one of the best at the position. I'm happy he's back with the family. I know he can help our team, so that's great.'' While Smith is scheduled for court appearances each of the next two Tuesdays, he expects to be in practice. Smith was charged Oct. 9 with three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from that party at his home in June 2012. ''Of course, I didn't want to be away from the sport I love. But it was good for me to get away and get my mind together and work, like I say, just to get to the positive spot I need to be at,'' he said. ''I caught some of the games, some that were broadcast over there. So I was able to keep up with the guys and chime in here and there and wish them good luck.'' Smith had a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks last season for the NFC champions. He has 4 1/2 sacks and 18 tackles over three games in 2013. ''I'm just taking it one day at a time, getting back here, being around the guys and just getting my life back at home,'' Smith said. Also Tuesday, leading 2012 wideout Michael Crabtree was cleared to resume practicing following May surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. The 49ers now have three weeks to activate him. Britain-US Davis Cup match on clay court at Petco SAN DIEGO (AP) — The firstround Davis Cup match between Britain and the United States will be played on a clay court in left field at Petco Park from Jan. 31-Feb. 2. While organizers haven't decided if it'll be red or green clay, they feel their choice of surface will give the Americans an advantage over Britain, which is expected to be led by defending Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. ''The feeling is that Murray and anyone below him would have trouble on clay,'' Jeff Ryan of the U.S. Tennis Association said after a news conference on the infield at the downtown ballpark on Tuesday. ''It's not their preferred surface. In between now and then, with Andy still recovering from his surgery and going to Australia and playing there, I don't think they'll have a lot of clay court experience. The home court advantage is right there. That's it. We're used to getting it against us all the time. We're getting much more comfortable on clay.'' Organizers haven't decided whether it'll be red clay, which is made from crushed bricks, or on Har-Tru green clay, which is made from crushed stone. Playing the match on clay probably is a lesser of three evils decision. Murray is best on the speedier surfaces of hard courts and grass, as evidenced by his Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon this year and the U.S. Open in 2012. But he's not afraid of clay, having trained from his teen years on the slow red surface in Spain. He once reached the semifinals at the French Open, something none of the current crop of American men has come close to doing. In addition to that run to the final four in 2011 — before losing to Rafael Nadal, which is no shame at Roland Garros — Murray also made it to the quarterfinals in Paris two other times, in 2009 and 2012. Capacity will be about 8,000. Some 2,000 permanent seats in the left field stands will be augmented by about 6,000 more in a temporary stadium built around the court. ''I think it creates a lot of excitement,'' said Bill Kellogg, president of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. ''Davis Cup is all about crowd and people and cheering, which is not what people usually think tennis is. That national pride, I don't think it gets any greater than it does in a ballpark.'' It'll be the first time a Davis Cup match will be played in an open-air ballpark in the United States. The United States is undefeated in six Davis Cup matches in the San Diego area. The Britain-U.S. rivalry is the oldest in Davis Cup history, dating to the first competition in 1900, when the Americans beat the British in Boston. The United States last faced Britain in the 1999 World Group first round in England, winning 3-2 when Jim Courier rallied in the fifth match to beat Greg Rusedski in the fifth set, 86. Courier, now the U.S. captain, also won in five sets on the opening day of that match, beating Tim Henman in 4 hours, 12 minutes. The one drawback is that the final day of the match is Super Bowl Sunday. ''We would prefer not to have it conflicting with the Super Bowl, but fact is, it will be largely decided by the time the Super Bowl starts,'' Kellogg said. ''It's really not a huge factor in diminishing the appeal of the Davis Cup. In fact, I think it will turn into a great sports day. You get to watch what could be a dramatic finish to the Davis Cup, followed by the Super Bowl.''